Rotary photogravure press



H. V. BIERY. v ROTARY PH'omRRAvuRE PRESS.

. APPLICATION FILEI) APRA. 2. |919. AQLSGO.

Patented July 4, 1922.

H. v. BIERY. ROTARY PHO'TUGRAVURE PRESS.

APPLlCATlON FILED APRx 2, 1919..

Patented July 4 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.-

NETE@ HARVEY V. BIERY, OF OKLAHOMA, OKLAHOMA.

ROTARY PHOTOGRAVURE PRESS.

Application filed April 2, 1919.

To all inkom t may concern.'

Be it known that l, HARVEY V. BLERY, a citizen Aof the United States, and a resident of Oklahoma, in the county of Oklahoma and State of Oklahoma, have invented certain new and useful improvements in a Rotary Photogravure Press, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to the art of printing, and has particular reference to an improvement in rotary photogravure presses.

Heretofore, in rotary photogravure presses a solid copper cylinder has been used upon Which is printed, and then etched, any continuous tone negatives to be reproduced. The etchings are in intaglio and are very shallow, and the surface of the cylinder must be re-polished prior to the etching of the next piece of Work. To do this, the copper cylinder or roll must be removed bodily from the press, an operation which is not only time consuming, but Which also frequently results in injury to the cylinder. The cost of these copper cylinders, and the Weight of copper in their construction and use, has led manufacturers to various attempts to overcome these defects. Copper sheets have been fastened to steel -mandrels, but Without success. A coating of copper has been deposited on the steel mandrel in an electrotypers vat to the depth of about oneeighth of an inch. The last attempt, hoW- ever, has been no better than the first, except as to the quantity of copper used, for the entire roll or cylinder has to be removed from the press for re-polishing.

One of the principal objects of the present invention is to overcome the above diiiiculties and disadvantages, and to that end effected by the use of this detachable plate or cylinder in preference `tothe taking down of the entire roll off the press, putting the roll into the polishing lathe Where the surface is re-ground and polished for the neXt piece of Work, then placing the entire roll into the sensitizing and transfer process, and

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July a, i922.

Serial No. 286,948.v i

bersome, and Where Work ofvart has to be done upon them a great Waste of time is effected and many chances are taken in the operation of transporting the cylinders or rolls and in mounting the same in the various machines or devices required. In addition to this unnecessary Work, the press itself is standing idle and this is a considerable item in non-productive labor.

By the. use of the detachable cylinder or plate of this invention, the cylinders or plates may be prepared in a plant and in any `desired number as are required for'the work to be produced. The removable cylinder or plate also admits of the provision of a central art engraving plant Where the cylinders are etched, and from which they may be shipped to all parts of the country to the users of the presses and the latter therefor do not have to maintain a staif of artists and highly skilled workmen to prepare the plates. By the use of the present invention, the press is used practically continuously as it only requires a fevv minutes time to interchange plates'or cylinders, and the entire method of Working the press is reduced to its simplest form, and in a more satisfactory and economical manner.

These detachable plates or cylinders may Y y be made of any suitable material, such as copper, zinc, aluminum andthe like, and may be used to produce rotary offset Work, and lithographie work, or ordinary photogravure Work. 1

The present invention also has for-an object to overcome the necessity of removing the entire cylinder, and at the same time to overcome all of the disadvantages above enumerated; to provide a mandrel with a removable surface layer or shell of copper or other suitable substance, to provide quickly releasable means for retaining the shell or cylinder upon the mandrels; to provide an improved mounting for the Inandrel; to provide a press upon which calico or fabric may be printed; toA provide a press adapted for multi-color printing.

The above, and various other objects and advantages of this invention Will be in partdescribed, and in part understood, from the following detailed description of the preferredembodiment, the same being illustrated in the accompanying drawing, Wherein- Figure l is a longitudinal section through the printing roller andits mounting, show ing the roller released and raised out of its normal position.

Figure 2`is a fragmentary side elevation of the printing roller and its mounting, showing the means for releasably supporting it.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section through the printing roller.

Figure a is an end elevation of the same.

Figure 5 `is a fragmentary end `elevation ofthe mandrel or body part of the printing roll.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary longitudinal section of the pla-te, shell or cylindery adapted to be detachably mounted upon the mandrel. VFigure .7 is a fragmentary end vievv of the same. j

Figure S is a fragmentary longitudinal `Section of the mandrel, showing one of the slots for locking the cylinder in place.

vFigure 9` is a detail enlarged 'transverse section through one of the printing rolls constructed according to the present invention.

Theplates 10 are provided with upstanding `forked brackets, the arms 2l of which are longitudinally spaced apart, and the arms 2l at one side of the units or sections have vertically extending grooves 22 in their inner `faces adapted toireceive lugs 23 proj ecting from the opposite ends of a movable bearing block 2l`vvhich is fitted betvveen the arms 2l.` The lugs 23 are preferably cylindrical and constitute trunnions upon which the bearing blocks 24 may turn. An adjustable rest 25 is mounted between the arms 21, and is Ain the form of a screw threaded in the adjacent `plates 10 and is adapted to beraised tothe desired height for support ingithe bearing blocks 24. A cap piece 26 is secured across the upper end of the arms 2a` `and is adapted to retain the bearing blocks 24: within the brackets. A set screw 27 is threaded in the cap. piece 26 and is adaptedto bear at its inner end against the blocks 24 `for holding the same from vibration.

At the opposite side of the unit or section l0, the forked bracket is provided therein with a vertically adjustable block 2S having lugs29` adjacent therecesses in the adjacent fork arms 2l, andthe lugs 29 are of such length as to hold the block 2S from turning, and to guidethe block in itsvertical movement betWeeifl the arms. The blocks 24 and 28 constitute bearing for a printing'roller shaft made up of the tivo sections 30 and 3l; The shaft section 30 is journaled in the block 24 and has suitably mounted thereon the mandrel or body portion 32 of aA printing roll, `and is provided at opposite sides of the block 24 with guide discs or collars 33, and outwardly7 of the collars 33 with spur gear Wheels 34. 'The shaft section 31 is relatively short, and is journaled in the block 28 and adapted to move longitudinally therein. The inner end of the shaft section 3l projects partWay into the 4adjacent spur gear Wheel 34. and is connected with a strip jointvon the adjacent end of the shaft section 30. rThe said adjacent gear Wheel 34 and its guide disc 33 are connected together, and are adapted to slide longitudinally `upon the shaft section andover upon the shorter shaft section 81 to release the adj acent'end of the long shaft sectionBO. The outer end of the shaft section 3l is peripherally grooved, and is adapted to receive therein the edge of a llatch plate 36 suitably pivoted against the adjacent side of the frame section l0, and held in adjusted position by a Winged nut 37 carried by the frame and adapted to bind against the outer side of the latch plate 56.

An important feature of the present 1nvention is the construction of the printing roll. The mandrel 32 thereof is preferably made from steel or the like and is adapted to .receive `upon its exterior surface a plate or cylinder 66 which may be formed from copper, zinc, aluminum, or the like. This plate 66 is disclosed in the form of a cylinder adapted to fit upon the mandrel 32, and which may be detachably held thereto in any suitable manner. ln the 'present instance, the plate or cylinder 66 is-provided at suitable points, and upon its inner surface7 with `longitudinally extending ribs 67 of preferably dovetail construction. The exterior face of the mandrel 32 is provided with recesses or depressions 68 extending longitudinally thereof and which are of corresponding idovetalil form. The slots or recesses 68 in the mandrel 32 are of less length than the mandrel and terminate in spaced relation from one end thereof to form stop `shoulders 69 against Which the end of the adjacent rib 67 is adapted to abut for holding the cylinder or plate 66 from displacement from Lthe adjacent end of the cylinder The shell or cylinder 66 is held to the mandrel, from longitudinal movement with respect thereto avvay from the shoulder 69, by a latch ring Y 70 which is fitted fiat against one side of the mandrel 32 and provided Yat suitably spaced apart points with arcuate slots 7l through which combined retaining and clamping bolts 72 pass, the bolts being threaded into the adjacent end'of the mandrel. The heads of the bolts 72 are adapted to bear against Washers surrounding the bolts and bindthe latter against the exterior surface of the ring 70 to lock the same in adjustedrposition. The ring 70 is provided in its peripheral edge with Adovetail notches 7 3 adapted to aline with the recesses or slots 68 in the mandrel and admit the release of the cylinder or plate66. The cylinders or llO plates 66 may thus be easily and quickly removed and interchanged upon the mandrel 32 so that any desired etching may be quickly mounted upon the mandrel and without undue delay in the operation of the press.

The printing roll of each frame section is hingedly mounted in one side of its section, and the shaft section 30 of each printing roll may be swung up about its trunnion 23 and the printing roll supported upon suitable means. Then in this position, the plate or cylinder 66 may be readily slipped upwardly from the free end of the printing roll after the locking ring 70 has been turned sufliciently to register the recesses or notches 73 therein with the bead 67 of the removable cylinder or plate. The cylinders or plates, which are relatively light, may be easily handled, easily interchanged, and may be easily transported from a central plant where artists and the proper facilities for imprinting and etching may be had.

It is of course understood that various changes and modifications may be made in the details of construction and design of the various parts of the above specifically described embodiment of this invention, the modifications and changes being restricted only by the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

l. In a rotary photogravure press, the combination with a frame, of a mandrel mounted for rotation in the frame and pivoted at one end therein, a printing cylinder removably mounted on the mandrel and adapted to be introduced upon and removed from the free end of the mandrel when swung upon said pivot, means for securing the mandrel at its free end in the frame, and means for retaining the cylinder upon the mandrel.

2. In a rotary photogravure press, the combination with a frame, of a mandrel rotatably mounted in the frame and pivoted thereto at one end, means for releasably holding the free end of the mandrel in the frame, a cylinder detachably mounted on the mandrel and adapted to be removed therefrom and positioned thereon over the free end of the mandrel when released, and means for interlocking the cylinder with the mandrel.

3. In a rotary photogravure press, the combination with a frame, of a mandrel rotatably mounted in the frame and pivoted at one end thereto and adapted to be swung upwardly out on the frame, a cylinder of material to be etched removably fitting over the mandrel, means for locking the cylinder from circumferential movement upon the mandrel, retaining means carried upon the free end of the mandrel adapted to engage the cylinder to hold the latter from longitudinal removal from the mandrel, and

means for detachably holding the said mandrel for rotation in the frame.

4. In a rotary photogravure press, the combination of a mandrel provided With longitudinal grooves in the periphery thereof terminating near one end of the mandrel the Ymandrel, and a locking device of less diameter than the cylinder carried upon the end of the mandrel adapted to engage the ends of the ribs when the cylinder is fitted to the mandrel to hold the cylinder from longitudinal movement from the mandrel.

5. In a rotary photogravure press, the combination of a mandrel provided with a longitudinal groove in itsperiphery opening through one end of the mandrel and extending to a point in spaced relation from the opposite end thereof to form a stop shoulder, a cylinder of material to be etched adapted to be fitted on the mandrel and having an internal rib for engagement in said groove and being of less length than the cylinder to abut said shoulder of the mandrel and retain the cylinder in longitudinal. register with the mandrel, Yand a rotatable locking device carried upon the end of the mandrel through which said groove opens, and having a notch therein corresponding to the form of the rib to admit the passage thereof into and from said groove, said locking device being adapted to be turned upon the mandrel to move the notch out of register with the rib and retain the latter in the groove.

6. In a rotary photogravure press, the combination of a mandrel provided with longitudinal grooves in its peripheral surface terminating in spaced relation from one end of the mandrel and opening through the opposite end of the mandrel, a cylinder of material to be etched removably fitting u on the mandrel and provided with longitudinal ribs upon its inner surface adapted to engage in said grooves and being of less length than' the cylinder to engage the mandrel at the inner ends of the said grooves to retain the cylinder and the mandrel in longitudinal register, and a locking ring concentrically and slidably mounted upon the end ofthe mandrel through which the grooves open and having notches in its peripheral edge adapted to register with the grooves upon the turning of the ring, said ring being adapted to be turned to move the notches out of register with the grooves for locking the ribs in the grooves.

7. In a rotary photogravure press, the

eoinbi'iiationof `afiiiandrel provided with a longitudinal peripheral groove "through oneeiid of the `mandrel and ternfiinating short of theiotherend thereof to `form a stop shoulder, a cylinder of material to lloe-etched removably fitting upon the man- "drel andliaving a longitudinally extending rib @adapted to seatin said groove and being oflesslength'than the cylinder and adapted "toengalge said shoulder to hold the cylinder iand the mandrel in longitudinal alinement, ualookiiig ring arranged eoneentrically upon "theelid of `the mandrel through which the groove opens and provided With a notch in rits peripheral edge adapted to register with *the groove to admit the passage of the rib into and out of the groove, said locking ring being adapted to be turned to move the Fnotch out of register with the groove and to retain the rib therein, and means foi `seeuring the locking ring in adjusted position.

`8. In a rotary photogravure press, the combination of a mandrel having a peripheral `longitudinal* groove opening through one end of the mandrel and terminating in `spaced relation from` the other end thereof ito form a stop shoulder, a cylinder of ina- `terial to be etched adapted to slide longitudiiially over the end of the mandrel lthrough which said groove opens and having `a longitudinal rib on its inner surface to enter thegroove and engage said shoulder 'to holdthe cylinder in longitudinal register with the mandrel, a looking ring arranged eoneentrically against the end of the mandrel through which said groove opens and provided with segmental slots therein, clamping screws carried by the mandrel and projecting through said "slots and adapted to opening v be tightened against the `ring for holding the same in eiroumferentially adjusted p0si ftion, said locking ring having a peripheral notch therein corresponding tothe shape of said groove to admit the introduction and 4removal of said longitudinal rib, the lockiing' ring being adapted to be turned and secured in position with the notch out of `register with the-'groove for vengaging the exposed end of the rib and holding the bearing in the opposite side of the frame, a

shaft mounted `in one end in said pivoted bearing block and adaptedto engage said "opposite bearing block, means for detachably holding the shaft to the opposite bear- "ing block, a mandrel mounted on said shaft, *said slr-aft being adapted to be released from "the other bearing block and swung about the pivoted bearing block into a released position, and a. cylinder adapted to be removably positioned upon said mandrel when 'the latter is released.

10. In a rotary `photogravure press, the

combination of a frame, a transverse shaft rotatably mounted in the frame, a pivoted bearing for one end of the shaft, releasable retaining means for the opposite end of the shaft to hold the `latter in the frame, said i'eleasable means being adapted to vbe disengaged from ythe shaftand the latter being adapted to be swung into a raised position, f

"af mandrel mounted upon the shaft, and a cylinder detachably mounted on the mandrel :and adaptedto be removed therefrom when the shaft is swung, into a raised position.

HARVEY V. BIERY. 

